Novak Djokovic likened to "GOAT" Michael Jordan, with "warrior" Rafael Nadal as Kobe Bryant & Roger Federer as Steph Curry by NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer were recently compared to basketball grears Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Steph Curry by former NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki made the claim in a conversation with compatriot Alexander Zverev.

Nowitzki played for the NBA team Dallas Mavericks for 18 straight season, winning the NBA Championship with them in 2011, when he was also adjudged the Finals MVP.

Nowitzki appeared in a recent episode of the A BIS Z podcast, hosted by World No. 3 Alexander Zverev and his brother Mischa Zverev for Tennis Channel. Among several questions, Mischa asked Nowitzki to identify his Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer of basketball.

Nowitzki began by drawing parallels between Federer and Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry.

"Wow, you really put me on the spot," the NBA legend said. "Well… who is elegant? Maybe Steph Curry could be Roger, great technical abilities, he can dribble, he can shoot, little bit of everything, his nickname was always Stephortless because it all looked so effortless."

The German then put the Spaniard and late Kobe Bryant in the same bag for their courage and passion, stating:

"Who could be Nadal? An absolute warrior, Kobe in a way, killer instinct. I would say Kobe, he played injured, who was always there for his franchise."

The 46-year-old ultimately likened Djokovic to his greatest of all time (GOAT) Michael Jordan:

"And Djokovic has to be either LeBron or Michael Jordan. Jordan was my GOAT, six championships during the 90s. For me still the GOAT even though LeBron broke all records but if you loved Jordan as a kid, you can’t lose that love."

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Rafael Nadal to retire in November 2024, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have already paid their tributes

Novak Djokovic (l), Rafael Nadal (C), and Roger Federer. (Getty)

Rafael Nadal will retire from professional tennis in November 2024, having reserved the Davis Cup Final 8 as his farewell tournament. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will represent Spain for one final team as a player alongside Carlos Alcaraz and others in the knockout competition.

The Spaniard announced the decision on October 10, 2024, and the tributes poured in from the tennis community led by his archrivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

"What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come,” the Swiss, who quit tennis in 2022, wrote. “Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honor!"

The Serb, chimed in:

"You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that’s probably greatest achievement anyone can wish for. Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit, is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever."

On the court, Nadal faced Federer 40 times, finishing as the head-to-head leader with an advantage of 24-16. He battled with Djokovic on 60 occasions, with the head-to-head favoring the latter 31-29.